Announcements

Pamela Holtzinger is still fighting to protect women!

Since the mid-1990s, strangulation has been identified as one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence and one that carries significant risk of medical complications, according to the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention in San Diego.Despite the inherent dangers, Holtzinger said, no one in the county, or even the state, was considering it as an event that could place a patient at a higher risk of death.

IAFN Board appoints new CEO

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), I am pleased to announce that we have unanimously selected Jennifer Pierce Weeks, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, to serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IAFN.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has just released a new policy statement on trafficking and child victimization. It can be found here: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2017/11/22/peds.2017-3138

Happy Forensic Nurses Week

Check out all of the EXCITING resources available to help you celebrate.

Download one of our colorful banners to post on your website.Send a thank-you note to a forensic nurse or how about a certificate of appreciation for sharing their compassion.You can contact the media with the 2017 Personalized Press Release.Or, email your local representative to bring awareness to the specialty.

Jeanlee Carver is Honored by her Community

YCC honors Weber County investigators of sexual assault crimes. Carver has 20 years of experience as a nurse. She’s a director for the Northern Utah Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or NUSANE. She specializes in child abuse and neglect for the Weber-Morgan Children's Justice Center.

Mindi Kuebler Sheds Light on Human Trafficking

Last year, the Hotline received 1,352 calls in Ohio, and 375 human trafficking cases were reported, ranking Ohio fourth in reported human trafficking cases behind California, Texas and Florida. Kuebler has been working with Oberlin’s Project Unbound in bringing awareness of local and na­tional human trafficking issues to campus.

IAFN Member: Michelle Resendez Honored as 'Inspirational Leader'

Franciscan Health’s Michelle Resendez, coordinator of the Northern Division’s Center of Hope Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, has been honored as an Inspirational Leader in Sexual Assault Prevention and Response by the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault.

Malinda Wheeler's Safe Place Program is Making News!

“Malinda has made a huge difference throughout L.A. and Orange County,” said Jennifer Rivera, a forensic nurse who has worked for Wheeler for six years. “She’s taken sexual-assault exams out of the ER and made it better for the victims.”

IAFN Member, Patti McFadden won the The 2016 Nurse’s Touch Award from AIT.

The 2016 Nurse’s Touch Award Winners were chosen. And, we’re proud to honor Diana Patterson for embodying the spirit of nursing and going above the call of the classroom to train the next generation with kindness and compassion.

Wilkie says many trafficking victims "look like any other patient that comes into the ED."

Tara Wilkie is a forensic nurse examiner with the Fraser Health Authority in BC. "We can't expect people to trust us when they've been in the most untrusting relationships", she says about the women who've been trafficked.

IAFN Member Tami Grewell brings a trauma-informed approach to victims

After the DOJ forced changes in the way Missoula County handled rape allegations, Missoula Police Detective Capt. Michael Colyer played a large role in bringing his department into compliance with the DOJ’s policies on investigating sexual assault cases.

2017 Award Nominations are Now Open

Each year, the International Association of Forensic Nurses seeks to honor those who have advanced forensic nursing and enhanced the growth and success of the Association. We request your assistance in this important process.

One Week Left to Sit for the April Certificiation Exam and Save

Apply to sit for the April 2017 SANE-A® and/or SANE-P® certification exam. Learn more by downloading the 2017 Certification Examination Handbook page at www.ForensicNurses.org. Apply by mail, fax, email, or online by February 7, 2017.

IAFN Member Kathy Howard educated the public about strangulation

According to Howard, it's difficult to track the number of strangulation cases since only an estimated three percent of victims seek medical attention. However, statistics suggest strangulation could be a factor in as many as half of all domestic violence cases.

Susan Johnson recognized for her work with the March of Dimes 2016 Nurse of the Year award

As a forensic nurse, the release states that Johnson received the Nurse of the Year honor for her “continued dedication and work on behalf of victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking.”

A Practical Guide to Forensic Nursing: Incorporating Forensic Principles Into Nursing Practice received two awards: it was awarded first place in the Critical Care/Emergency Nursing category and third place in the Medical-Surgical Nursing category.

The overall objective of the commission is to ensure the integrity of forensic claims in Texas, Downing said, by making sure proper methods of evidence analysis are used. Downing said the scope of the commission has grown over the past 10 years.
"We're so used to DNA being our go-to piece of evidence," Downing said, "but now if there's two or more people mixed in a sample, the specificity is not as accurate as once believed, and new techniques are being developed constantly."

Best Wishes to the September 2016 SANE Certification Examinees!

Angela Amar, PhD, RN, FAAN, has been chosen as a Fellow of the NLN prestigious Academy of Nursing

As an early pioneer in forensic nursing, Amar helped develop nursing curriculum to better prepare nurses to serve as a first line of defense for survivors of violence and trauma when they enter the health care system. She has helped develop course content and establish national forensic nursing education standards for the International Association of Forensic Nursing. Dr. Amar has also worked with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to establish the Advanced Forensic Nursing certification and co-authored an introductory forensic nursing textbook.

IAFN Foundation Call for Board Applications

The IAFN FOUNDATION has called for applications from members to serve on the Foundation Board.
The Foundation will select up to three (3) people to serve a three-year term as a Board Member. Terms will begin January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2019.

Ann Wolbert Burgess is a 'living legend'

IAFN Member, Ann Wolbert Burgess, a pioneer in the field of forensic nursing and an internationally recognized leader in the treatment of victims of trauma and abuse, has been designated a “Living Legend” by the AAN, the academy’s highest honor.

Rebecca Rodriguez and team works with Local agencies collaborate on sexual assault response plan

How community agencies treat and respond to victims, whether through prosecution of perpetrators or the services that directly deal with their physical and mental needs, helps them to make the transition to becoming survivors, she said.
“And that’s the goal. We want them to make that transition,” she said.

Sally Laskey has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of IAFN

Sally comes to IAFN with 25 years of violence prevention and victim services experience, most recently serving as Outreach Director for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. She brings with her 20 years of non-profit management experience focusing on sexual violence.

Stacey Mitchell Honored at the Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon

Stacey A. Mitchell holds a Doctorate in Forensic Nursing. She also holds both a Master and a Bachelor Degree in Nursing. Dr. Mitchell’s career began with providing services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, trauma and neglect. She has moved through the chairs and served as President of the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

Jennifer Mumphord and Leslie Kallus are making a difference in Texas

A 2013 Texas law mandates that all hospitals with emergency rooms have doctors and nurses trained in basic forensic evidence collection. But the law also requires patients have the choice to go to medical facilities with sexual assault nurse examiners.

New Joint Position Statement of ENA and IAFN

The ENA and IAFN Board's have recently approved the updated Joint Position Statement titled: Adult and Adolescent Sexual Assault Patients in the Emergency Care Setting. Please look for it on our website.

Deanna Grundl named Victim Witness Professional of the Year by the state of Wisconsin.

She leads the SANE program at Aurora Medical Center in Manitowoc County. The Wisconsin Victim Witness Professional of the Year Award is awarded to an individual who has given professional assistance to crime victims while providing them with fair treatment, dignity and respect.

Brenda Doolittle and team at Aurora are providing care and compassion to WI

Many hospitals choose not to offer the exams at all. Others offer them as a charitable service. Officials with Aurora, ThedaCare and Mayo Clinic Health System all said their exam programs operate in the red, relying on foundations and other revenue streams to support them.

Shannon Berkeley–Scott and her team of forensic nurses are making a difference

"Across the country, there are programs closing because it’s not financially beneficial for hospitals,” Perkins said.
Mary Washington Healthcare spends about $300,000 a year on its forensic nursing program, said Eileen Dohmann, senior vice president and chief nursing officer. The program costs about $500,000 to run annually, but some of the expenses are reimbursed by local law-enforcement agencies and by the state.

Have you completed the IAFN Annual Membership Survey Yet?

Julie Valentine is changing the way West Valley police investigate SA

Presenting her findings at a news conference Thursday, Julie Valentine, assistant professor of nursing at BYU, explained how she studied the department's use of the protocol for a year. During that time, the number of sexual assault investigations that yielded criminal charges rose to 32 percent compared with 9 percent in the county sample, according to Valentine's research.

Rebecca Rodriquez leads a community forum to raise awareness of human trafficking

"The hotels on 85, there's quite a few of them. … This is big business," said Kelli Clune, a forensic nursing coordinator at Spartanburg Medical Center. She said Spartanburg's location on the interstate, between Atlanta and Charlotte, makes it an ideal destination for traffickers.

Congratulations to JFN's very own Dr. Anita Hufft on her election to the AACN Board of Directors!

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 5, 2016 – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is pleased to announce the results of its 2016 election to fill seats on the AACN Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. With votes cast by member deans from the nation's schools of nursing with baccalaureate and higher degree programs

Susan Short and Anjie Gibson Offering Vital Services

The program began in Surrey in 1992 and expanded to Abbotsford in 1999. Since then, patient volumes in Abbotsford have grown considerably, from just 10 in the program’s first year at ARH, to 68 in 2013, and up to 106 last year. Across the province, forensic nursing services vary from stand-alone services like Fraser Health’s, to sexual assault response teams that include examiners.

Paulette Lill and her team making a difference

The region's first sexual assault response team was unveiled this week after last year's statewide changes in the examination, treatment and billing of sexual assault victims.
It happened Wednesday morning at the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office. The initiative has two goals: catching the predator and protecting the victim.

A Star is Born - Jenny Black brings awareness to ABC

Jenny had the great good fortune last summer to share some technical advice with ABC’s American Crime for the current season. The story revolves around a high school sexual assault. Once they realized how valuable she was as a resource (my words) she was cast as the forensic nurse in episode two.
The first episode ran last week and is available on Hulu and ABC’s site. The exam episode airs next Wednesday night at 9 central. Way to go Jenny

Deanna Grundl Launches a Program

In the last couple months, Grundl has launched a program in Sheboygan that trains nurses to look for signs of domestic violence, connect victims with local resources, and conduct forensic exams that can be used as evidence in court, should a victim choose to go that route.

IAFN's own Annie Lewis-O’Connor featured on Lippincott’s Nursing Center

IAFNs own BOD Sara Jennings recognized in VA

Sara was selected from a record number of nominees as one of Virginia’s outstanding young nurses because of her achievements in professional practice, leadership, and her positive promotion and advancement of the nursing profession beyond the practice setting.
Virginia Nurses Foundation’s 40 Under 40 outstanding emerging nurse leaders! Sara will be honored on stageat the 2015 Virginia Nurses Foundation Gala on the evening of November 21 at the Hilton Short Pump in Richmond.
Congrats

IAFN Member and Peer Recognized Nurse Paula Newman-Skomski in the news

Newman-Skomski works at Everett's Dawson Place, where children go if they're being sexually abused. It's a job you and I probably can't handle, but she's motivated by her own past of sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Years later, everyone's worst nightmare as a parent came true — her daughter was kidnapped.

Let's take a moment to congratulate Bridget Christina Maybury

Ms. Bridget Maybury was selected by the leadership of her New York Police Pct. (50th Pct) to participate in Citizens Police Academy.
The graduation was on June 23rd, 2015 in One Police Plaza where the Hon. William J. Bratton NYPD Police Commission presented the certifications.
Ms. Maybury working with her local Police Pct. to make a positive difference in the Co

Colin Harris is recognized as DEAC's 2015 Outstanding Graduate and Famous Alumni

Colin Harris is a long time member of both IAFN and FNSC. He is a former student in Forensic Health Sciences Option at BCIT and now an instructor in Forensic Health Sciences courses. He has presented at IAFN conference both as a poster presenter and as a session presenter on his work in Occupational Safety. He is also a member of CFNC and now recognized as a distinguished graduate of Aspen University.